2 People Severely Burned in Christmas Day Fire
at 3-Story Motel in Westlake, Los Angeles. fire may have started near a stove in one of the motel's kitchens
Several people were hospitalized, including two who were
severely burned, after a Christmas evening blaze tore through a 3-story motel
in the Westlake area of Los Angeles, fire officials said.
Fire tore through a second-story unit of a Westlake
motel. (Credit: Elie Varrette)
It took 100 firefighters a total of 21 minutes to knock
down the blaze at the J.J. Park Motel, which is located at 1906 W. Third St.,
according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Dozens of people were evacuated from the building at
around 6 p.m. after intense flames shot through a second-story unit, cellphone
video shot by a tenant showed.
At least one person, a disabled elderly woman, had to be
rescued, the video showed.
“Literally people were started to climb out the second
story windows. They were trying bedsheets and lowering themselves down,” said
LAFD spokesman Erik Scott. “And some other individuals along the back side of
the building were literally making kind of a human ladder where they were
climbing on top of each others shoulders to assist other people down.”
One eyewitness said she saw people jumping out of
windows to escape the flames.
Six people were treated at the scene, while five were
taken to a hospital, authorities said. Two people suffered critical burn
injuries.
It was not immediately clear how many residents were
displaced by the blaze.
There are about 135 units in the building and roughly 25
of them were damaged, authorities said.
Investigators were still trying to determine how it
started.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Some residents slid down knotted bedsheets or
clambered down people standing on one another's shoulders to flee a
raging Christmas night fire that injured six people and badly damaged a
residential motel near downtown Los Angeles, authorities said Friday.
Two of the injured suffered critical burns and smoke inhalation, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said. Five people were hospitalized, and the injured ranged in age from 28 to 73.
The fire, which broke out about 6 p.m. Thursday, was traced to a kitchen in one of the three-story motel's 135 units.
"First-arriving firefighters were immediately met by multiple challenges as they saw residents trying to escape from smoke-filled second-floor windows by climbing down bedsheets tied together or on human ladders of people standing on each other's shoulders," Scott said.
He said firefighters had to help several people out of the burning building, including some in wheelchairs.
As they did so, other firefighters dragged hoses through corridors and up stairwells while still others used chain saws to cut holes in the hotel's roof to allow the flames and smoke to vent.
It took approximately 100 firefighters about 20 minutes to douse the blaze, Scott said. About 25 units were damaged by fire, smoke and water.
Senior arson investigator David Liske said the fire originated near a stove in one of the hotel room's kitchens.
"While the cause of the fire appears to be accidental, the investigation will continue," Liske said.
Scott said the hotel's smoke alarms worked properly, alerting residents to the blaze.
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People slide down bedsheets to escape motel fire
Two of the injured suffered critical burns and smoke inhalation, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said. Five people were hospitalized, and the injured ranged in age from 28 to 73.
The fire, which broke out about 6 p.m. Thursday, was traced to a kitchen in one of the three-story motel's 135 units.
"First-arriving firefighters were immediately met by multiple challenges as they saw residents trying to escape from smoke-filled second-floor windows by climbing down bedsheets tied together or on human ladders of people standing on each other's shoulders," Scott said.
He said firefighters had to help several people out of the burning building, including some in wheelchairs.
As they did so, other firefighters dragged hoses through corridors and up stairwells while still others used chain saws to cut holes in the hotel's roof to allow the flames and smoke to vent.
It took approximately 100 firefighters about 20 minutes to douse the blaze, Scott said. About 25 units were damaged by fire, smoke and water.
Senior arson investigator David Liske said the fire originated near a stove in one of the hotel room's kitchens.
"While the cause of the fire appears to be accidental, the investigation will continue," Liske said.
Scott said the hotel's smoke alarms worked properly, alerting residents to the blaze.